Archive for the ‘ADAPT’ Category

Sailing through rough times

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Quite a bit has been going on! I returned home from the NCIL Annual Conference to an ugly situation. Monroe County had terminated it’s contract with the Center for Disability Rights (CDR) to administer the Consumer Directed Personal Attendant Services (CDPAS) program. That action resulted in a week-long vigil outside the County building. Today is the day that we will know how things pan out.

There are numerous articles about what happened on the CDR website, as well as articles I’ve written for Associated Content that will outline the full story. Needless to say, it was quite nasty (and possibly illegal) on the County’s part!

Thank you to ADAPT folks from Binghamton, NY, Philadelphia, and Georgia who came to Maggieville to support us!

UPDATE

It looks like the judge reserved his decision, so it could take up to another two weeks before we hear what the final decision will be.

Just as I was getting back into the swing of regular workdays, I was rushed to the hospital with horrible pain in my legs, from my hips to my ankles. At first, it was thought that there were blood clots in my legs, but thank goodness, that’s not the case. My doctor says that there are a number if things going on simultaneously, but he has to figure out what they are. I do have arthritis in my hips and knees, but that doesn’t account for all the pain that I’m in. The doc thinks that something neurological is going on, and wants me to get a nerve conduction test, or EMG in my legs as well as an MRI of my brain, as he thinks that there could be lesions on the brain due to Multiple Sclerosis.

I am at home for now. The doctor will not release me to return to work until he sees me again in early September. It’s just as well, since I can neither sit nor stand for any length of time. Hopefully, the three new pain meds that I’m now on will kick in and start to work. I’ll keep you updated on what is going on.

My Interview with Fox News

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

The day following ADAPT’s protest of Nancy Pelosi, I was interviewed by Fox News for the Fox and Friends show, a program that is aired nationally. I got home at 4:30 am and at 6:00 am, was taken by limousine to Fox’s studios here in Rochester. I was placed in an empty room with a camera, and microphones were affixed to my clothing, and on placed in my ear, so that I could hear and respond to the interview. It was all done remotely, and the Fox reporters were nice to me. I was afraid that they would try to make me look foolish. Anyway, here is the link to the interview.

My Interview with Fox News

Nancy Pelosi Heckled by Disabled During Speech

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

On June 7-8, 2010, 25 ADAPT folks were in Washington, DC for the America’s Future Now! 2010 Conference, organized by the Campaign for America’s Future. I wrote an article for Associated Content describing what happened.

Nancy Pelosi Heckled by Disable During Speech

Live from DC-DOJ and NGA

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Sorry for the late post. I tried several times to post, and kept getting sidetracked after writing a few sentences.

A cloudy sky greeted ADAPTers yesterday morning as we stepped of to begin our day. Rain was forcasted but we were prepared with varous types of rain gear.

Off we went to the first of what would be two hits. The first target was the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). ADAPT wants Attorney General Eric Holder to aggressively and affirmatively enforce Olmstead and protect the civil rights of people with disabilities.

I had been having scooter troubles, and five minutes into the march, the scooter died. Fortunately, we have vans follow us for just this purpose. I was scooped up and taken to the action site.

Things were underway when I arrived. The AG’s staff were being obstinate, but the police were helping to facilitate negotiations. They were worried about a Free Mumia protest scheduled for later, and did not want to deal with two sets of protesters.

Finally it was agreed for two ADAPT leaders would go inside and meet with AG Holder. He agreed to meet with us again on Wednesday at our hotel so that he could hear stories from our folks about people being unnecessarily institutionalized. He also agreed to pusue Olmstead complaints.

After our victory, we had lunch, and headed to our next target, the National Governors’ Association (NGA). ADAPT wants the NGA to support the Community Choice Act. We also want them held accountable for the budget cuts that are devastating our community.

Things were intense at first, but after some time, three leaders went inside to meet with NGA Executive Director, Ray Sheppach. He agreed that NGA would work on implementation of states Best Practices policy, and also agreed to meet with ADAPT again in ten days.

Today, we’re going to be out there again working to FREE OUR PEOPLE!!! Stay tuned.

Live from DC-Fun*Run

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

Right now, as post this, I am doing my laps at the ADAPT Fun*Run for disability rights. This Fun*Run is in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, so I’m out here with Mike Ervin, the National Fun Runner, Michelle Fridley, newly crowned Miss Wheelchair New York, and Fun Runner from the Nation of Rochester, and my ADAPT sisters and brothers on what has turned out to be, a most beautiful day!

I have been wheeling and dancing my way around Upper Senate Park to help raise money to keep the work of ADAPT going. I have been in ADAPT for 24 years, and have witnessed, and have been a part of it all.

I am SO pumped up for our upcoming direct actions! I’ll keep you posted.

Live from DC-Sunday, Part 1

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

I’m sitting in the New People’s meeting, which I love to crash. Being in the meeting is revving me up for the week, gettibg me excited about getting out there and freeing our people!

I’ll be in and out with updates about what is going on. Stay tuned!

We are off – and early!

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

The Nation of Rochester has saddled up, and we are off! 43 of us and all of our gear, plus a vanload of folks, and a cargo van are on the way to DC to join our ADAPT sisters and brothers to FREE OUR PEOPLE!!!

I’m joining the ADAPT Blogswarm – Spring Action 2010!

Friday, April 23rd, 2010
Orange ADAPT logo that says, Community choice, it is a civil right!

Orange ADAPT logo that says, Community choice, it is a civil right!

I am excited to join the ADAPT Blogswarm over at Nick’s Crusade for the Spring 2010 action! I’ll be blogging live from DC. If you’re a disability rights blogger go join the swarm. We need as many voices as we can out there!

Gearing up for DC

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

I am quite excited about going to DC tomorrow for the ADAPT action! The theme of the action is Defending Our Freedom. It refers to the fact that across the nations, states are going through major budget cuts, and guess who is on the chopping block? Why, people with disabilities, of course. :( Why is it that we are the only minority who still must fight for, and defend our freedom?

Of course, ADAPT is not taking this lying down, and we are converging on Washington, DC tomorrow. The Rochester crew will be hopping on a bus to join our sisters and brother to free our people!

I won’t be taking my laptop, but I will be blogging live from DC via my cell phone. I’ll also be tweeting live, as well as taking pictures and videos. Stay tuned!

Disabled Riders Protest RGRTA, Say Stop Violating Federal Law!

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Last week our disability community in Rochester said enough is enough! We were so sick and tired of dealing with RGRTA and their shenanigans that we organized a protest. Folks who use wheelchairs are still being passed up at bus stops. Lift Line users are still being denied rides. It is well know that RGRTA doesn’t deal well with folks who complain about them, particularly if you work for, or are in any way associated with CDR.

Want to know what happened? Find out here.